Kargil

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About: the municipality in India, Ladakh, Kashmir region

For other uses, see Kargil district.

the film

Template:Distinguish

Kargil

[[File:|250x250px|frameless|center]]

Settlement type Town and municipality
Country India
State
District
Subdivision

Kargil (Template:IPA Template:Respell, Template:IPA) or KargyilTemplate:Sfnp[1] is a city in Indian-administered Ladakh in the disputed Kashmir region.[2] It is the joint capital of Ladakh, an Indian-administered union territory, and the headquarters of the Kargil district. It is the second-largest urban centre in Ladakh after Leh.[3] Kargil is located Template:Convert east of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, and Template:Convert to the west of Leh. It is on the bank of the Suru River near its confluence with the Wakha Rong River, the latter providing the most accessible route to Leh.Template:Sfnp

Etymology

The Ladakh Chronicles spell the name of Kargil as Template:Bo.[4] The word can be interpreted as meaning a bright or wholesome expanse.[5] Modern newspapers are said to spell the name as Template:Bo.[6] It can also be interpreted as a bright or wholesome mountainous amphitheatre.[7] This phrase occurs often in Tibetan literature.

The Kargil basin does give the feel of an expanse surrounded by low-pitched mountains, with the low Khurbathang plateau at the southeastern corner. This is in sharp contrast to the deep gorges that give access to the valley.Template:Sfnp[8]

The people of Kargil, however, relate the name to Khar (fort) and rkil (centre) and interpret it as a central place among many forts. Radhika Gupta has opined that it is a fitting description for a place that is equidistant from Srinagar, Leh and Skardu.Template:Sfnp

Location

File:Kargil.map.gif
Location of Kargil with respect to Kashmir, Baltistan and Leh

Kargil is located at the confluence of multiple river valleys:

  • the Suru River valley to the north and south,
  • the Wakha Rong valley to the southeast leading to Leh, and
  • the Sod Valley to the east leading to the Indus Valley near Batalik.

In addition, at a short distance to the north, the Dras River valleyTemplate:Efn branches off from the Suru valley leading to the Zoji La pass in the west and Kashmir Valley beyond. Further north along the Suru valley, one reaches the Indus valley, leading to Skardu. Thus, Kargil is located at a key junction of routes between Kashmir, Ladakh and Baltistan.

The normal trade route between Leh and Skardu also ran via Kargil, using the Wakha Rong and Suru valleys. Even though both the towns are on the bank of the Indus River, the latter's narrow gorge between Marol and Dah was not easily traversable prior to the modern period.Template:Sfnp[9]

After the Partition of India and the First Kashmir War, Baltistan came under the control of Pakistan. The Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan-administered Kashmir is roughly Template:Convert to the north of Kargil. The peak known as Point 13620, which overlooks the Kargil town and the Srinagar–Leh Highway, remained in Pakistani control at the end of this conflict. During the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, Indian forces pushed the Line of Control north of the ridgeline, ensuring Kargil's security. A key village called Hunderman came under Indian control as a result of this push.[10][11]

History

The Sod Valley had a strong fort called Sod Pasari (Template:Bo, now known as Pasar Khar) by the 16th or 17th century. It controlled "Lower Purig", including the Sod Valley, the lower portion of Wakha Rong and, likely the Kargil basin itself.Template:Sfnp[12] By the 18th or 19h century, it also had a sub-branch at PashkumTemplate:Efn (Template:Bo) southeast of Kargil town in the Wakha Rong valley.[12]

Dogra period

File:Sodh Khar (Fort) Kargil.jpg
Ruins of the old fort at Sod

During Zorawar Singh's invasion of Ladakh in 1834, the Dogras attacked both the forts Sod Pasari and Pashkum, and destroyed them.Template:SfnpTemplate:Sfnp Afterwards, Zorawar Singh built a fort at Kargil,Template:Sfnp and stationed a Kardar (administrator), with the charge of the Kargil region as well as Drass. In 1838, the people of the region revolted against the Dogras and killed the kardar as well as entire garrison stationed at Kargil.Template:SfnpTemplate:Sfnp

In 1840, after another rebellion in Ladakh, Zorawar Singh deposed the Gyalpo of Ladakh and annexed the kingdom. He also decided to invade Baltistan which had assisted the Gyalpo in rebellion.Template:Sfnp On the way to Baltistan, he made a detour to Sod, routed the rebels and annexed the whole of Purig. He appointed kardars for Dras and Suru.Template:SfnpTemplate:Efn

After Zorawar Singh's death in Tibet, there was another rebellion in Ladakh and Purig with the support of the Tibetan forces. But Dogras sent fresh forces under Wazir Lakhpat, who beat back the Tibetans and reestablished status quo ante. On returning, the Wazir garrisoned the Kargil fort and took all the Rajas of the region as prisoners.Template:Sfnp

Alexander Cunningham described the Kargil fort in 1854 as a square of about sixty yards on the left bank of the Suru River immediately above its junction with Wakha Rong. It was able to defend the bridge over the Suru River and completely command the Kashmir–Ladakh road.Template:Sfnp

In 1854, there were three ilaqas (subdistricts) in the present day Kargil district, at Kargil, Dras and Zanskar respectively. They were headed by civil officers called Thanadars.Template:Sfnp During the reign of Pratap Singh, a wazarat (district) was established for all the frontier regions (including Gilgit), and Kargil was made a tehsil of the wazarat. Sometime later, Gilgit was separated, and Kargil, Skardu and Leh made up the Ladakh wazarat. The district headquarters shifted between the three locations each year.Template:Sfn

Importance to central Asian trade route

In historical times, Ladakh was a busy entrepôt for Silk Route trade between Central and South Asia. Both Leh and Kargil benefitted from the trade between South and Central Asia as posts and halting places on the caravan routes from Srinagar to Leh, and on to Central Asia until the mid-20th century. During the colonial period, the significance of this trade route in Kargil town manifested in the form of a serai, a rest-house, and post and telegraph offices. The small wooden shops and large emporiums of Kargil's small bazaar offered matches, kerosine oil, several varieties of sugar and tea, cotton cloth from Bombay and Manchester, and cheap glass and tinsel ornaments.[3]

Independent India

File:KargilWarMemorial2.JPG
Kargil War Memorial

The First Kashmir War (1947–48) concluded with a ceasefire line that divided the Ladakh wazarat, putting roughly the Kargil and Leh tehsils on the Indian side, and the Skardu tehsil on the Pakistan side. The two Indian tehsils were soon promoted to districts and Ladakh was named a division, on a par with the Jammu and Kashmir divisions in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan renamed the Skardu tehsil Baltistan and divided it into further districts.

At the end of Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the two nations signed the Simla Agreement, converting the former ceasefire line with some adjustments into a Line of Control, and promising not to engage in armed conflict with respect to that boundary.[13]

File:Rangdum village of Zanskar in Kargil.jpg
Rangdum village of Kargil enroute Zanskar from Kargil town.

In 1999, the area saw infiltration by Pakistani forces, leading to the Kargil War. Fighting occurred along a 160 km long stretch of ridges overlooking the only road linking Srinagar and Leh.[14] The military outposts on the ridges above the highway were generally around 5,000 m (16,400 ft) high, with a few as high as 5,485 m (17,995 ft). After several months of fighting and diplomatic activity, the Pakistani forces were forced to withdraw to their side of the Line of Control by their Prime minister Nawaz Sharif after he visited the United States.[15]

Geography

File:Kargil Town Panorama.jpg
Kargil town along the Suru river valley

Kargil has an average elevation of 2,676 m (8,780 ft), and is situated along the banks of the Suru River. The town of Kargil is located Template:Convert from Srinagar,[16] facing Gilgit-Baltistan across the LoC. Like other areas in the Himalayas, Kargil has a temperate climate. Summers are hot with cool nights, while winters are long and chilly with temperatures often dropping below −20 °C (−4 °F).[17]

Demographics

As per the 2011 census, Kargil had a population of 16,338 individuals, an increase from the population of 10,657 recorded in the 2001 census.[18][19] The population increased almost ten times from the 1961 census when 1,681 persons were recorded. The proportion of urban population in the Kargil district concomitantly increased from 3.7% to 11.6%.Template:Efn[3] As of 2011, the population consisted of 10,082 males and 6,256 females. Majority (70%) of the population belonged to Scheduled Tribes. The town had a literacy rate of 83.6%.[18][19]

File:Old man yarning.jpg
An old man of Kargil in traditional attire.

Islam is the largest religion followed by over 77% of the adherents, followed by Hinduism adhered to by 19.2% of the population. Sikhism (2.2%), Buddhism (0.5%) and Christianity (0.4%) are other minor religions.[20] English, Hindi, Ladakhi, Purgi, and Urdu are declared official languages in the territory.[21] Other spoken languages include Balti, Shina, Zanskari, and other Dardic languages.[22]

Transportation

File:National Highway 1D India.JPG
National highway NH 1 connects Srinagar and Leh via Kargil

Kargil is located on national highway NH 1 connecting Srinagar to Leh.[23] NH 301 extends from the junction with NH 1 in Kargil and extends to Zanskar.[24] The highways connecting Kargil to Srinagar and Zanskar are often blocked by snow from during winter.[25][26] NH 1 from Kargil to Dras and Leh also experiences temporary blockages due to adverse weather.[27][28] Government operated buses provide local connectivity, and also connect Kargil with other towns.[29][30][22] The Kargil-Skardu road earlier linked Kargil to Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. It has been closed since the Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948.[31][32][33]

File:Kargil airport overview.jpg
View of Kargil airport from Choskore La.

Kargil Airport was built in 1996 for civilian operations.[34][35] The operational control was later transferred to the Indian Air Force.[36][37] The air force operates seasonal flights that carry cargo and transport civilians during the winter.[38] The nearest major airports are the Leh Airport with regular domestic flights and the Srinagar International Airport.[22] Srinagar railway station is the nearest railway station from the town, and has limited railway services.[39] The nearest major railhead is the Jammu Tawi railway station located about Template:Cvt from the town.[22]

Media and communications

State owned public broadcaster All India Radio operates an AM radio station at Kargil.[40]

See also

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Notes

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References

  1. ↑ Art and Devotion at a Buddhist Temple in the Indian Himalaya{{#if:Kerin|, Kerin}. Indiana University Press(2015). ISBN 978-0-253-01309-5
  2. ↑ The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the tertiary sources (a) through (e), reflecting due weight in the coverage. Although "controlled" and "held" are also applied neutrally to the names of the disputants or to the regions administered by them, as evidenced in sources (h) through (i) below, "held" is also considered politicized usage, as is the term "occupied," (see (j) below).
    (a) Kashmir, region Indian subcontinent. Encyclopaedia Britannica. (subscription required) Quote: "Kashmir, region of the northwestern Indian subcontinent ... has been the subject of dispute between India and Pakistan since the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. The northern and western portions are administered by Pakistan and comprise three areas: Azad Kashmir, Gilgit, and Baltistan, the last two being part of a territory called the Northern Areas. Administered by India are the southern and southeastern portions, which constitute the state of Jammu and Kashmir but are slated to be split into two union territories.";
    (b) Aksai Chin, Plateau Region, Asia. Encyclopaedia Britannica. (subscription required) Quote: "Aksai Chin, Chinese (Pinyin) Aksayqin, portion of the Kashmir region, at the northernmost extent of the Indian subcontinent in south-central Asia. It constitutes nearly all the territory of the Chinese-administered sector of Kashmir that is claimed by India to be part of the Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir state.";
    (c) Encyclopedia Americana. Scholastic Library Publishing. C. E Bosworth, University of Manchester Quote: "KASHMIR, kash'mer, the northernmost region of the Indian subcontinent, administered partlv by India, partly by Pakistan, and partly by China. The region has been the subject of a bitter dispute between India and Pakistan since they became independent in 1947";
    (d) Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements: G to M. Taylor & Francis. Quote: "Jammu and Kashmir: Territory in northwestern India, subject to a dispute between India and Pakistan. It has borders with Pakistan and China."
    (e) A History of Modern South Asia: Politics, States, Diasporas. Yale University Press. Quote: "We move from a disputed international border to a dotted line on the map that represents a military border not recognized in international law. The line of control separates the Indian and Pakistani administered areas of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir.";
    (f) [{{{url}}} Encyclopedia of Conflicts Since World War II]. Routledge.
    (g) [{{{url}}} The Difficult Politics of Peace: Rivalry in Modern South Asia]. Oxford University Press(30 March 2024).
    (h) Kashmir: Roots of Conflict, Paths to Peace. Harvard University Press. Quote: "J&K: Jammu and Kashmir. The former princely state that is the subject of the Kashmir dispute. Besides IJK (Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir. The larger and more populous part of the former princely state. It has a population of slightly over 10 million, and comprises three regions: Kashmir Valley, Jammu, and Ladakh.) and AJK ('Azad" (Free) Jammu and Kashmir. The more populous part of Pakistani-controlled J&K, with a population of approximately 2.5 million.), it includes the sparsely populated "Northern Areas" of Gilgit and Baltistan, remote mountainous regions which are directly administered, unlike AJK, by the Pakistani central authorities, and some high-altitude uninhabitable tracts under Chinese control."
    (i) An Environmental History of India: From Earliest Times to the Twenty-First Century. Cambridge University Press. Quote: "Kashmir’s identity remains hotly disputed with a UN-supervised “Line of Control” still separating Pakistani-held Azad (“Free”) Kashmir from Indian-held Kashmir.";
    (j) Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris. Oxford University Press. Quote:"Some politicised terms also are used to describe parts of J&K. These terms include the words 'occupied' and 'held'."
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Dynamics of Mountain Urbanisation: Evidence from the Trans-Himalayan Town of Kargil, Ladakh, India. Land({Template:Date).
  4. ↑ Antiquities of Indian Tibet, Part 2{{#if:Francke|, Francke}. Superintendent Government Printing(1926)
  5. ↑ THL Tibetan to English Translation Tool, The Tibetan & Himalayan Library. Term: "dkar skyil".
  6. ↑ The Emergence of Bon and the Tibetan Polemical Tradition. Indiana University.; See also dgon rabs kun gsal nyi snang /. Library of Tibetan Works and Archives.
  7. ↑ THL Tibetan to English Translation Tool, The Tibetan & Himalayan Library. Term: "dkar 'khyil".
  8. ↑ View of the Kargil valley from the north, Google Maps, retrieved 17 January 2023.
  9. ↑ [{{{url}}} Lost kingdoms of the gold-digging ants (Review of L'or des fourmis: La découverte de l'Eldorado grec au Tibet by Michel Peissel)](Summer 1988).
  10. ↑ Prepare or Perish: A Study of National Security. Lancer Publishers.
  11. ↑ Naseer Ganai, Unlocking History: Hunderman's Transformation From Rock Dwellings To A Museum Village, Outlook, 7 February 2024.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 [{{{url}}} Buddhism before the First Diffusion? The case of Tangol, Dras, Phikhar and Sani-Tarungtse in Purig and Zanskar (Ladakh)].
  13. ↑ The Armed Forces of Pakistan{{#if:Cheema|, Cheema}. Allen & Unwin(2003). ISBN 1-86508-119-1 Pg 4
  14. ↑ 1999 Kargil Conflict. GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  15. ↑ War in Kargil – The CCC's summary on the war. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  16. ↑ Profile of Kargil District Template:Webarchive Official website of Kargil District
  17. ↑ Climate & Soil conditions. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named City
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Pop
  20. ↑ Kargil City Population. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  21. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Lang
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 How to reach. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  23. ↑ Rationalisation of Numbering Systems of National Highways. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  24. ↑ Notification from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways(4 August 2012). Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  25. ↑ Key Roads in Kargil Closed Due to Heavy Snowfall, Traffic Advisory Issued(20 April 2025). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  26. ↑ Srinagar-Leh and Kargil-Zanskar highways closed amid heavy snowfall. Rising Kashmir(1 March 2025). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  27. ↑ Sgr-Leh NH closed. Greater Kashmir(19 April 2025). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  28. ↑ Srinagar-Leh Highway opens partially to restore supply of goods for Ladakh. Greater Kashmir(31 March 2025). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  29. ↑ Bus service from Kargil to Jammu started by J&K govt. The Hindustan Times(4 July 2013). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  30. ↑ First batch of e-buses rolled out in Kargil. The Economic Times(3 July 2023). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  31. ↑ Moving on the Kargil-Skardu road(24 April 2007). Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  32. ↑ The Kargil-Skardu Route: Implications of its Opening by Zainab Akhter. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  33. ↑ Present status of Kargil to Skardu Road(29 March 2012). Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  34. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  35. ↑ Regulator asks SpiceJet to start flights to Kargil. Live Mint(27 September 2012). Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  36. ↑ Kargil to be a major Indian Air Force base. Zee News(29 January 2018). Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  37. ↑ Ministry of defence to run Kargil airport. Dawn(29 December 2002). Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  38. ↑ J&K starts air courier service for Kargil. The Economic Times(20 December 2007). Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  39. ↑ Srinagar railway station. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  40. ↑ How one Ladakhi Woman Kept Kargil's AIR Station Running, Despite Enemy Shelling!(26 July 2020). Retrieved 7 October 2020.

Bibliography

Further reading

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